a few questions about brazillian waxing

[Reba67]

Just a quick question about doing a brazillian. I've never done it all before (tried shaving but couldn't handle doing it all and gave up). I'm thinking of doing it as a surprise for valentine's day.

Should I do it a few days ahead? Anything I should do to prepare? Anything I should do to prevent ingrowns? That was one thing I hated about the shaving.....had HUGE problems with ingrowns and I don't know if it's because I shaved and waxing is better for this? Currently I'm just trimmed a bit down there.

 

[infinity706]

I actually use a hair removal spray. As long as you don't have sensitive skin and keep it off the pink parts of your pussy, it should be as nice as shaved without the ingrown hairs or the pain of waxing and it only takes about 3 minutes. If you get it on the pink parts, though, make sure you wash it off as quickly and as well as possible so you don't risk getting a chemical burn.

 

[Reba67]

What brands can you give me as suggestions? I've never heard of hair removal SPRAY.

 

[SweetErika]

Yes, I'd suggest getting waxed a few days ahead of time in case you have any issues like hypersensitivity, a little bruising or the waxer does a lousy job.

I've never had a problem with ingrown hairs, but I'm always careful to exfoliate the areas I'm going to wax the day before and then periodically after the wax. I think a lot of ingrown hairs stems from a lack of exfoliation and improper technique, so if you exfoliate and go to a good professional, you should be fine.

If you decide you like waxing but find having it done prohibitively expensive, you might consider doing it at home after the first couple of times, but I wouldn't suggest waxing at home for the first time before a big event (or trying it without help unless you really know what you're doing).

 

[ASBgirl]

I have never had a professional waxing job. I went to a beauty supply store and bought a waxing kit. It was about $75. My kit came with some aweful pink bubblegum like wax was useless on the genital area. Make sure to get hard wax. Hard wax does not need muslin strips. Trim your hair to about 1/2 inch. Apply baby oil to all areas to be waxed. DO NOT forget this step. (I learned that the hard way, lol) Get the wax warmed up. Make sure it is not too hot because you are applying to a very sensitive and thin skinned area. Apply, let it get hard and then take it off. I usually pull against the growth of the hair but if I am having a hard time, I get it off any way I can. LOL. The first time hurts the worst. I wax about every 7-10 days to stay smooth.

 

[SweetErika]

I have never had a professional waxing job. I went to a beauty supply store and bought a waxing kit. It was about $75. My kit came with some aweful pink bubblegum like wax was useless on the genital area. Make sure to get hard wax. Hard wax does not need muslin strips. Trim your hair to about 1/2 inch. Apply baby oil to all areas to be waxed. DO NOT forget this step. (I learned that the hard way, lol) Get the wax warmed up. Make sure it is not too hot because you are applying to a very sensitive and thin skinned area. Apply, let it get hard and then take it off. I usually pull against the growth of the hair but if I am having a hard time, I get it off any way I can. LOL. The first time hurts the worst. I wax about every 7-10 days to stay smooth.

The type of wax certainly matters, but you have to use the formula of wax for your specific hair and skin type. For instance, I tried several types of hard wax at first only to figure out my finer hair and sensitive skin needed soft wax.

Also, the person should follow the instructions for the wax they're using. For instance, I've seen lots of hard waxes prescribe a light dusting of baby POWDER before application, but I've never heard of putting on baby OIL beforehand. Oil makes the wax come off the skin and any little hairs, which is why most people use it as a last step, when they're cleaning up.

Regardless, it still seems like a bad idea to fool around with trying to learn home waxing the week before a big event.

 

[Bottomlover]

Regardless, it still seems like a bad idea to fool around with trying to learn home waxing the week before a big event.

I agree 100% with this. We have tried home waxing several times with mediocre results, and 2 weeks ago I had it done by a professional. The result was fantastic. As others have said, do it a few days before, and let your waxer know that you are prone to ingrown hairs - I was told that she could do something to minimize it. I got waxed 2 weeks ago, and am still nice and smooth with no problems whatsoever.

 

[Reba67]

Yeah, I realized that it's really close to Valentine's day and I just won't have time to do it a bit early. I tried shaving again today and did it totally differently than I did before and 1) got it all bare in just one session and 2) feel a lot less sore than I did the first time I did it. Hopefully I can manage to avoid the ingrowns this time with really good exfoliation of the area for a bit.

 

[fire_breeze]

I've been having brazilians for years, both going to a professional and then doing it myself.

If you've never been waxed, I really strongly suggest going to a professional a few days before. First of all, the skin needs to be pulled taut in order for it to be flawless and painless; this is very difficult to achieve by yourself, especially if you don't know how it's done. Second, it takes an aesthetician all of 30 minutes to do a brazilian, if that. It can take a person 50 minutes or more to do it on herself (okay, it does for me). Third, they have the proper wax for sensitive areas, heated at the proper temperature. It takes time to shop around with a home waxing kit for you.

As for the baby oil thing, I've never had that done nor heard to do it. With most waxes, your skin needs to be clean and dry, hence the powder (the salon I go to uses simple corn starch, but I've also had baby powder used). However, each to her own.

What I suggest is that you make an appointment a few days before the big day; if your hair is not long enough, you can always cancel. In the meantime, exfoliate with a loofah mitt or a face cloth in a circular motion to prep the skin. On the day of the appointment, shower, exfoliate and do not apply any moisturiser whatsoever. When you get waxed, that evening take a warm shower to remove any excess wax, if necessary, but do not exfoliate. Wait a day or two. I exfoliate every single time I shower, simply because I like the result. You should exfoliate at least three or four times a week to keep the skin smooth and to remove any dead skin cells.

Hope it helps, good luck.

 

[shannon893]

Ingrowns

To prevent ingrown hairs, physical exfoliation is a good first step. Follow with dilute tea tree oil or salicylic acid solution (such as a toner for acne). My waxer has a roll on product that makes it really easy. I won't repurchase because it was kind of expensive for something I can make myself.

 

[ASBgirl]

Google "Brazillian wax and baby oil". You can use baby powder OR baby oil prior to waxing. I prefer oil as it provides a nice barrier between thin skin and the wax and it is soothing to the skin, unlike talc.

I apply it before I start the wax warmer and by the time I am ready to wax, most of it is absorbed. The wax sticks fine to the hairs but wont rip your skin off.

 

[Tigera]

The best way (I've found) to avoid the dreaded ingrowns is to exfoliate EVERY DAY. It doesn't have to be harsh - I just use a loofah, and then a good rub with my bath towel afterwards when the skin is nice and soft.

 

[pplwatching]

There are some risks associated with waxing. The type and severity seem to be the subject of some debate. If you are interested in reading more :

http://www.vagisil.com/special_200604.shtml
http://www.mysexprofessor.com/sexual-health/can-you-get-an-infection-from-a-brazilian-bikini-wax/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31144530/ns/health-womens_health/

 

[SweetErika]

There are some risks associated with waxing. The type and severity seem to be the subject of some debate. If you are interested in reading more :

http://www.vagisil.com/special_200604.shtml
http://www.mysexprofessor.com/sexual-health/can-you-get-an-infection-from-a-brazilian-bikini-wax/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31144530/ns/health-womens_health/

In the past couple of years, a woman posted here about a life-threatening infection she got from shaving.

We've also heard more than one tale about severe chemical burns from depilatories and infected ingrown hairs from things like plucking and electric razors.

Hell, I've been nicked from very carefully trimming up with electric clippers several times.

And the curling iron I used this afternoon could have given me a severe burn and infection (and did when I dropped it on my thigh last year, but I still use it, just more carefully), I could have choked on my dinner or tripped over our foster dog...

Everything carries some risk. In the grand scheme of things, the risk of serious complications from waxing is pretty low when it's done correctly, followed up with good hygiene, and there are no contraindications or a lack of common sense (e.g. the lady with Type 1 Diabetes in the MSNBC article ).

The way I see it, when I wax, I put myself at risk of injury and infection every 4-8 weeks. If I shave, it's every day or few days. Bacteria could get in from trimming nicks once every week or two. When I think of it that way, waxing seems like the safest option for affordable hair removal (which IS going to happen when I'm healthy).

Or is there some safer, affordable method of hair removal, in your opinion?

 

[pplwatching]

Your dinner, curling iron, and dog are all things who's risk you can mitigate and reduce. Brazilian waxing is a largely unregulated industry and generally not a DIY project. Without certification and inspection there's no way to know if a salon/practitioner is aware of the issues, is hygienic, or is even doing it correctly. You have no control over how much or little risk there really is.

Saying that everything has some risk is no reason to marginalize the risk of a particular procedure.

 

[SweetErika]

Your dinner, curling iron, and dog are all things who's risk you can mitigate and reduce. Brazilian waxing is a largely unregulated industry and generally not a DIY project. Without certification and inspection there's no way to know if a salon/practitioner is aware of the issues, is hygienic, or is even doing it correctly. You have no control over how much or little risk there really is.

Saying that everything has some risk is no reason to marginalize the risk of a particular procedure.

Waxing is certainly a DIY/At Home procedure for many of us.

For those who choose to use professionals, asking lots of questions, watching the procedure and using an educated and licensed pro (e.g. a certified aesthetician vs. someone who's just watched a training video on waxing) can mitigate the risk of certain problems. Other pitfalls, like providing a route for infection via minor skin damage, aren't unique to waxing and are probably less problematic with waxing due to its relative infrequency.

I'm still wondering if you can offer any safer alternatives for affordable hair removal since you seem to be anti-waxing. If you or your wife wanted to remove a good amount of hair but couldn't afford laser treatments, what method(s) would get your seal of approval?

 

[pplwatching]

I'm still wondering if you can offer any safer alternatives for affordable hair removal since you seem to be anti-waxing. If you or your wife wanted to remove a good amount of hair but couldn't afford laser treatments, what method(s) would get your seal of approval?

Given my wife's health history we generally tend to be risk-averse. For that reason we try to be as cognizant as we can about risks and their practical impact on our lives. Understanding risks is not the same thing being anti (or pro) waxing. I have no opinion about waxing in general. I have strong opinions about self regulated estheticians and unlicensed industries.

My wife savors the personalized attention she gets from having me shave her, so that's what works for us. There'd be homework to be done if she wanted something more permanent where delicate tissues are concerned. Full Brazilian takes a lot of resolve to do yourself. I don't think my wife has the fortitude to pull it off (so to speak). There's also the general chaos around the house that comes from having her incapacitated for any length of time to consider. The problem lies in figuring out which estheticians are experienced, good, and really understand the issues. At that point we could form an opinion given our circumstances.

 

[Alalariy]

Ahhhh I just LOVE my Brazilian waxing!! Have been doing it for years & have no plans on stopping!! haha
I agree with everyone else, do it a few days ahead of time. Exfoliate before you go. My waxer provides an antibacterial lotion to apply for a day or so after to help with ingorwns. Haven't had one yet! Good luck to ya!

 

[fire_breeze]

Without certification and inspection there's no way to know if a salon/practitioner is aware of the issues, is hygienic, or is even doing it correctly.

I have strong opinions about self regulated estheticians and unlicensed industries.

hijack.

Not to jump into anything, but these statements surprises me a little. I've been waxing for about 15 years, and I've never had a problem, precisely because I made sure I went to a licensed salon, and to an aesthetician who is licensed. I've always had to fill out a health form, including what sorts of meds I've been on, and had my waxing experience adjusted accordingly; and those salons who are registered (at least over here) are subjected to rigourous inspections and are strictly regulated. Trust me. There is something to be said lying and having two guys barge in for a surprise inspection .

While I agree with you that unlicensed industries, especially in the aesthetic industry, can be very problematic, I also believe that it is the client's duty to make sure that the place s/he goes to is licensed. If I decided to pay 20 bucks for a brazilian in a back alley salon without checking their verification and licensing, it is as much as my fault, if not more so, than the so-called aesthetician's. Just like I will make sure that my mechanic is fully qualified and is licensed, so will I make sure that my aesthetician is fully qualified and licensed.

That being said, accidents and mistakes can happen. However, the risks are very low in places that are regulated and certified, that when they do happen, such as in the articles that you have presented, they make the news.

Like in most things, it's both the provider and the customer's duty to their respective homework, so to speak. Waxing is such a case - one can have a good experience, even with a DIY kit, if one does his/her proper research, asks questions and is fastidious about his/her health. It's all a matter of properly equipping oneself with knowledge and weighing in the risks vs. benefits. For many, the benefits of waxing far outweighs the risks, because they know precisely what to expect and the potential hazards, and then take the proper steps in avoiding them.

/Hijack. I just had to add my 0.02 cents

 

[little_minx89]

If you've got thick hair, don't even bother with any creams or sprays or any of that gunk. Go to your waxer about a day or two in advance, and bite the bullet. It's well worth the effort; you'll be slippery smooth for weeks.